Jones scored 18 points in the fourth quarter and Hardaway had
six in overtime, lifting the Heat to a 97-93 victory over the
Detroit Pistons.

It did not look like the Heat would make it to overtime after
Chucky Atkins' 3-pointer gave Detroit a 76-62 advantage with
7:49 left in the fourth quarter.

But Jones took over, scoring 16 points the rest of the period,
including a pair of foul shots with 11 seconds left that tied it
at 85-85.

"We were doing everything possible to get absolutely blown out
in that game," Heat coach Pat Riley said. "Then we had about a
four- or five-minute run of defensive pressure and traps that
got us under 10. Then Eddie Jones came up big and Tim came up
big. We were fortunate to get back in it."

In overtime, Anthony Mason converted a three-point play with 62
seconds left to put Miami ahead for good, 93-91. After Mason
blocked Jerry Stackhouse on the ensuing possession, Hardaway
provided the dagger with a long jumper for a four-point lead
with 24 seconds to go.

Atkins answered with a basket for Detroit before Hardaway sealed
things with two free throws with 16 seconds to go.

"Eddie Jones just took over the game. But before that, Brian
Grant kept us in it," Hardaway said. "We got it within 11, then
nine and then Jones made things happen. We knew we could win in
overtime if we just played good, straight defense and executed
on the offensive end."

Jones finished with 25 points and Hardaway 17 for the Heat, who
have won all three meetings with Detroit this season.

"When we were down 14, we thought we just had to be aggressive
and do whatever it takes to get back in the game," Jones said.
"Everybody was creating shots for each other. It just happened
the guys got me the ball and I was shooting it. I felt good
with my shot. If my shot was open, I was going to take it."

Jones started the Heat's comeback in the fourth quarter by
scoring five straight points and Dan Majerle drilled a
3-pointer, cutting the deficit to 76-69 with 6:09 left.

Atkins, who also provided headaches for the Heat last month when
he scored 25 points against them, nailed a 3-pointer with 1:46
to play, giving Detroit an 84-77 lead.

A critical mistake by Atkins, however, gave the Heat a chance.
Atkins stole the ball from Hardaway but tried an alley-oop pass
to Stackhouse that went out of bounds with 87 seconds left.

"I feel terrible. I made the mistake that cost us the game,"
Atkins said. "I had a chance to slow things down and make sure
we got a shot in a key situation, and I threw the ball away
trying a lob. It was a careless mistake on my part. I should
know better than that."

Detroit coach George Irvine also was critical of Atkins' miscue.

"A fastbreak lob in that situation is a ridiculous play," he
said. "If there's any doubt, you pull it out. If we make the
right play there, we win the game."

The Heat were able to rally behind behind Jones, who hit a pair
of 3-pointers around a free throw by Stackhouse that brought
Miami within 85-83 with 55 seconds left.

Atkins missed a 3-pointer on Detroit's next possession, leaving
the door open for Miami. Jones was fouled by Stackhouse with 11
seconds left and hit the ensuing free throws.

"Even after that, after the two 3-pointers by Eddie Jones, we
still had the game won and we take a shortcut. Eddie Jones
walks by his defensive guy, gets fouled and ties the game. If
you take shortcuts in practice and early in the game, pretty
soon you're taking shortcuts late in the game. We had to make
one (darn) play to win the game and we didn't do it."

Detroit had a last chance win, but Joe Smith and Billy Owens
both missed badly on jumpers. The Pistons could not get the
ball to Stackhouse, the NBA's third-leading scorer, who finished
with 21 points on 4-of-23 shooting.

After Stackhouse made two foul shots, Majerle nailed a 3-pointer
to put the Heat in front for the first time, 90-89, with 2:03
left in overtime. Atkins answered with a basket to give Detroit
its last lead.

Mason added 14 points and 18 rebounds and Brian Grant 14 and 10
for the Heat, who shot 39 percent (32-of-82) and held a 49-46
edge on the boards. It was Grant's 100th career double-double.